Two years ago, one of our pastors was preaching about the time Jesus used Peter’s boat to speak to the crowds (Luke 5).
That day, I felt Jesus speak to me clearly, “Give Me your YouTube channel! It is a platform that I want to speak from!”

This encounter with God came at a time when I was ready to give up on YouTube! But that day, taken by surprise, I recommitted it to Jesus. [1]

A Prophetic Word for Those in Online Work and Ministry

I believe this is a “now” prophetic word for many who are working in your ministry, or other work, online.

Right now, here in Australia, we are not able to physically meet with people.
And it may be the same for you.

Our platform is changing.
I believe the Lord is saying,
“I am with you, and you will reach more people than you ever could before.
This is the year of harvest.
This is the generation that will hear the sound of My voice.”

We Serve the God of the Miracle Harvest

One morning at the lakeside, crowds were pressing around Jesus.
So, He climbed into Peter’s fishing boat and asked him to move out onto the water.

From that boat, set apart from the crowds, Jesus taught the people.
The sound of His voice carried clearly across the water.

It was the morning after a frustrating and barren night, in which Peter and his team had caught no fish. Yet that day, they received a miracle provision from God—a huge harvest of fish (see Luke 5).

Perhaps you can relate to this. It may even seem as though you have been laboring for no return.
But wait, listen for Jesus’ instructions.
We serve the God of the miracle harvest.

5 Keys to Having an Anointed Online Ministry

The story of how Jesus used Peter’s boat as an unusual pulpit, contains valuable lessons for us today, as we seek to have an anointed online ministry—one that has the touch of God on it.

1. See What Can be Possible with the Eye of Faith

When Peter surrendered his fishing boat—his small workplace—to Jesus, that boat drew attention.
Many eyes were turned towards that boat.

But they were neither focused on the fishing boat, nor on Peter.
Their eyes were on Jesus. Their ears were turned to Him.

Today, by faith, see your online work and ministry impacting people.
With the eye of faith, see people encountering Jesus’ love, healing and freedom. Being drawn to salvation.
See God’s power being released through your voice and the work of your hands.

Receive a fresh vision from the Holy Spirit, of what God will do through you.

2. Be Positioned in Obedience

In this story, being positioned was of great significance.

• Jesus asked Peter to position his boat out from the shore
• And then, He ordered a change of position “into the deep” for the miracle catch of fish

Right now, many of us are learning new methods, and
scrambling to put essential tools in place.

It is easy to be caught up in the “how-to’s” of online work and ministry.
But the Lord is calling us right now, to also be positioned in Him—to be sensitive to how and where He is moving.
To follow His instructions.

“Launch out into the deep” (Luke 5:4)

Obedience is not duty or drudgery. To obey, as Jesus showed us, is simply to be with our Father in what He is doing.
And that is the miracle zone.

3. Have a “Now” Relationship with Jesus

Peter’s boat became an anointed platform because Jesus was on board.
And this is a reminder:
Being anointed comes from being in the company of the Anointed One.

It’s tempting to be distracted with the clamor of what is going on. But it’s only as we remain connected to Jesus that His power is released through us. (John 15:5)

Later in Acts, we read that “…when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus.” (Acts 4:13, NKJV)

It’s important to do the best we can, with the tools we have.
But being anointed is not about having fancy technology.
It’s about being a living encounter with God.

You can have the fire of God burning within you, because you have spent time face to face with Jesus.

And when you’re on fire, you will spread the fire.

4. Accept Jesus’ Commission—Lean into Love

The anointing upon Jesus had a purpose and an outcome.
And this speaks into our own purpose today:

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free…” (Luke 4:18, NIV)

It’s easy to be self-conscious, especially when beginning something new.
But when you catch the Father’s heart for people, His agenda becomes your agenda.
His passion becomes your passion.

So, lean into love.
That intimidation that has sought to cling to you, is falling off you now, as you see what Jesus sees (Mark 6:34).

5. Be Unique, Not a Copy

On the day Peter surrendered his boat to Jesus, his life and ministry was changed forever.

Jesus used Peter’s simple fishing boat—and He can use your workspace too, even if it is limited in size and scope.

Someone else may have a larger vessel, but what you have, is uniquely yours. It is not the size of your boat, but the size of your God that counts!

“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” 1 Peter 4:10 NIV

So, step into your own voice, use your own God given gifts, Share your own message and story.
You are about to discover your sweet spot.

Surrender Your Online Work and Ministry to Jesus

Peter’s boat was an unusual pulpit! And yet it was Jesus’ choice, at that time, to reach the maximum number of people who wanted to hear Him.

Today you may be hearing God’s call, “Give Me your online work and ministry!”

You may feel out of your comfort zone when it comes to the online platform, but Jesus is with you.
Surrender your work to Him and receive your fresh anointing.

Hear God say, “Give Me your “boat”!
Give Me your limited capacity, and the platform you have, because I have appointed you to reach a multitude.”

Note:

[1] You can find my YouTube channel here.
This was Ps Neil Smith of Planetshakers on 11/3/18. Interestingly, I’ve just checked, and my brief note from his sermon includes this: “Fishing all night [and catching nothing] speaks of troubled times”

My Recommended Posts:
How to Receive Your Fresh Anointing
Prophetic Word: There’s a Miracle in the Gap

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© 2020 Helen Calder, Enliven Blog

Enliven Ministries: In the David McCracken Ministries family

Helen Calder

Helen Calder is a prophetic minister and writer, and founder of Enliven Ministries. Helen has a unique gift of equipping in prophetic ministry and prayer. She is known for Enliven Blog (est. 2009), an online resource that reaches thousands of people globally.